TurboSquid will be holding a programming contest for the next generation of CheckMate Tools. The challenge is to write a tool that automatically inspects a 3D model in 3ds Max, then generates a detailed report about how well the model meets the CheckMate Pro standard. This report enables the artist to quickly find areas of the model that need to be fixed before submitting it for certification. You may write the tool in MAXScript or in any other language.
The contest will start next week, when we’ll post a contest page specifically for entries, and will run until March 31.
TurboSquid already has several such tools for 2010 software versions, which are currently available to SquidGuild members on the CheckMate Tools page. These tools will be made available to all TurboSquid members next week.
We already have a v2010 tool for 3ds Max, but many CheckMate artists create their models in earlier versions to accommodate customers with older software. The CheckMate Tools Contest aims to produce fast, effective scripts that artists can use on earlier versions of 3ds Max.
Part of the challenge comes from the design of 3ds Max itself. In versions 2010 and later, many points of the CheckMate standard can be verified manually with the XView feature. For earlier versions, before XView was released, the task is not so simple. With this contest, TurboSquid aims to attract the best and brightest MAXScripters, those who can figure out the most efficient way to inspect models in pre-2010 versions of 3ds Max without the benefit of XView.
The prizes for this contest are:
- 1st prize: $1000
- 2nd prize: $500
- 3rd prize: $250
To enter you must be a resident of the USA, 18 years of age or older, and a TurboSquid member. We’ll also be inviting programmers outside the TurboSquid community to join us and help make it happen. If you’ve got a MAXScripter friend, this is a great opportunity for you to collaborate on an entry that will not only help you with your work, but might get you some nice pocket change.
We’ve prepared a list of target features for entries, which you can look at now to gear up for the contest. The goal is to check for as many points of the CheckMate Pro specification as possible.
The CheckMate Tools Contest is scheduled to open next week. We’ll announce the start of the contest here on our blog, along with a link to a dedicated contest page with more details. We’ll also make available the existing 3ds Max 2010 scripts that our inspectors use, which you can use as a base for your own entry if you like.
Are you planning to enter the contest, or do you know a programmer who might like to? Let us know with a comment below.